Well I obviously lit you off like a bottle rocket but at what point in my ramble did I say anything about my long track record in the industry? did you see me in favor of low experience? I am trying to raise the bar, and at 1100 hours the bar is low in my book, but thats quite a bit different than the 250 hours we are discussing, and the fact that for 750 hours I was at a level over the training environment and below a regional- cause I was "time building" while finishing school. During that time I found I was making crap for wages (but they are still about what I make flying a 50 seat jet now) and I learned SOO much in the time that the ink dried on my temp until I showed up at a 121 ground school. These lessons are things that you may or may not see in a jet, but it was flying back to the basics. Flying "raw data" without a flight director, having to make PIC decisions about "can I go" "is that safe" "do we need to stop and get gas cause these winds and vectors around weather were not planned" "is that weather a factor"- things that you would experience in 6 months of instructing or doing any other job where you are the one signing for the airplane. And frankly 15 years right now doesnt matter in this argument b/c 15 years ago this problem wasnt even thought up, this is fresh to me, just as it is you. 15 years of flying is great, but a regional race to the bottom only lit off with the RJ's as of the late few years- I would say 1999 but I am not an aviation historian by any means. Correct me if I am wrong, but years ago a regional was a jetstream, beech, or saab- where you needed 2000+ to get an interview. I commend someone on 5000 hours, many types, and 15 years in the industry- currently I look in the left seat and try to learn as much from that guy/gal as I can during my trip with him/her. The problem we are discussing is when you look to the left, see your reflection in the mirror and realize that you have never been in this situation and arent sure what to do because you just meet the FAA's ATP mins and havent dealt with things that captains have already seen over and over again from back in the days of being an FO with 2500-3000 hours. Years ago you would still be hoping to get an interview soon for the right seat! Please, correct me if I am wrong- I hate to give out incorrect facts and will gladly apologize and correct anything said in eir, but these are the facts as I have seen them in my limited time in the industry.